# NTSB CEN13LA076: Cessna 177RG, N1912Q, Lansing, MI, November 28, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 2012, 19:04 local (Nov 28, 2012, 00:04 UTC) - Place: Lansing, MI - Coordinates: 42.77861, -84.586112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7786&lon=-84.5861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 24, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85684 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85684/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85684 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA076 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the loss of fuel flow through the airplane's fuel tank selector valve. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he retracted the landing gear, raised the flaps, and then reduced power during the climb. The engine then lost all power. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted a forced landing on the runway. He tried to extend the landing gear; however, it did not have sufficient time to fully extend and subsequently collapsed when the airplane touched down. The airplane skidded down the runway until coming to rest at the departure end. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the engine could not be primed when the fuel tank selector valve was in the "both" fuel tanks position. However, when the fuel tank selector valve was in the "left" tank position, fuel flow was established, the engine primed, and it ran normally. The examination could not identify what caused the observed loss of fuel flow through the fuel tank selector valve while it was in the "both" fuel tanks position. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 2012, about 1904 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177RG airplane, N1912Q, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power on takeoff from runway 28L at the Capital Region International Airport (LAN), near Lansing, Michigan. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial empennage damage. The airplane was registered and was operated by Partners For Neighborhood Group, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The flight was originating from LAN at the time of the accident flight and was destined for the Chicago Executive Airport, near Wheeling, Illinois. According to the pilot’s accident report, he reported that he was given a clearance to taxi to runway 28L. No operational anomalies were detected during the engine run up. Flaps were set to 10 degrees for takeoff. The pilot was then given a clearance to fly the runway heading on takeoff. After takeoff and in the climb, he retracted the landing gear and flaps. The pilot reduced engine power to 25 inches of manifold pressure and 2,500 rpm. It was at that time the engine lost power. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted a forced landing on the runway. He lowered the flaps and landing gear and initiated a flare about six feet above the ground. However, during the forced landing, the landing gear did not have time to fully extend. The airplane touched down, the gear collapsed and it airplane skidded until coming to rest at the departure end of the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. The airplane was lifted and the main landing gear was extended. The airplane's fuel system and engine were examined. The airplane's fuel gauges indicated one-half full on the left tank and three-eighths full on the right tank. An examination of the firewall sump and main tank sumps showed no water. However, a “minimal” amount of water was drained from the right belly sump. The inspector could not prime the engine when the fuel valve selector was positioned on the "both" fuel tank setting. He subsequently turned the fuel tank valve selector to the "left" tank setting, established fuel flow, primed, and started the engine. The engine ran rich at first but cleared after running for about 1 minute. No fuel flow could be established until the selector was placed in the "left" position. Once fuel flow was established, the engine started and ran normally. The reason for why fuel flow could not be established when in the fuel selector was in the "both" fuel tank position could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1912Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1912Q-2018-02-26), registration cancelled 2018-02-26, S/N 177RG0312, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0312 - Airframe hours: 1700 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Partners For Neighborhood Group, Inc. - Registered owner: Partners For Neighborhood Group, Inc. - Departed: LAN, Lansing, MI - Destination: PWK, Wheeling, IL - Airport: LAN, Capital Region IAP, runway 28L, 8,506 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 281 total, 64 in this make and model, 191 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: LAN ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20121127025899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121127025899A), Nov 27, 2012: Cessna 177RG, Lansing, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft engine on climbout lost power. Pilot landed at the end of the departure runway (no turns) and was unable to fully extend main gear prior to touchdown.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85684. 529 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 414 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388412&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Retention / Release of Wreckage Form (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Retention%20%2F%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous - Communication Summary (item 3, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Communication%20Summary-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.